Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A man was shot and injured Friday during a road rage incident in Manatee County.
The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on 3rd Avenue East.
Deputies said the 21-year-old and his 26-year-old friend were driving north on 3rd Avenue East when the suspect vehicle pulled up behind them.
The two men said it appeared the suspect was following closely, so the 21-year-old pulled over.
The suspect stopped at the intersection of 3rd Ave. and 25th St., and officials said the 21-year-old got out of his vehicle and approached the driver’s side door of the suspect vehicle.
That’s when witnesses stated they heard a pop and the 21-year-old fell to the ground. The suspect then fled north on 3rd Avenue.
The 21-year-old was transported to Blake Medical Center with injuries to his stomach and hand. Officials said his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.
This is an ongoing investigation.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, road rage is a major factor in traffic accidents that occur throughout the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of aggressive driving incidents is highly underreported because road rage or aggression is hard to quantify.
Examples of Road Rage:
- Tailgating other vehicles by speeding up to them and staying close to their back bumper.
- Weaving in and out of traffic.
- Cutting off other drivers.
- Stopping short for no reason.
- Passing a person on the right because they are driving too slow and then cutting them off.
This case shows a severe incident of road rage. When an accident or injury occurs because of road rage, the aggressive driver will face criminal charges. This could make it easier for the victim to collect financial compensation for damages in a personal injury case.
If you have been injured in a road rage incident, let our Florida Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton help. Schedule a no obligation consultation with us today by calling 866-608-5529 or request more information online.